Edge Sharpening Kit

[J. Barron DeJong]

I have a base edge guide and set my own base edge angle aster a grind, but you can clean up damage from rock strikes without it.

Cali currently doesn’t tune at all and wants to keep it under $100. No need for a base edge guide.

[californiagrown]

It would be tough to beat the versatility for 40$, and they are stupid simple to use. I can even fit one of my knife sharpening diamond stones in it for touchup work.

Tell me more about the knife sharpening setup for this haha.

Vacuum belts work great for keeping the brakes secured. Couple bucks at Walmart.

A few years back i actually repurposed a DayWrecker for this use. I can adjust the BSL to fit any binding in my family, and i use my standard bench vise to clamp the the DayWrecker to keep the ski stable during waxes/PTexin/Halfassed tunings. Pretty dialed actually. You can also just use those heavy-duty tactical rubber bands ($7 off amazon) that came with the CAST Gen 1 setups.

Cali currently doesn’t tune at all and wants to keep it under $100. No need for a base edge guide.

Yep. Im all about the value proposition here. Both in terms of ease of use/time and in terms of cost. Just keep it simple, stupid. Get me 70% of the way there, i dont need my skis to be an east coast rippah.


I bought SlideWright's suggested setup, FWIW. Stoked that when i get back on snow next month i shouldnt have to skid-slarve deathgrip it through scraped off sections.

[Going Coastal]

I meant I can fit one of my diamond stones for knife sharpening into it for ski work. I dont use the edge tuner for knives, lol.

[J. Barron DeJong]

I meant I can fit one of my diamond stones for knife sharpening into it for ski work. I dont use the edge tuner for knives, lol.

When I was getting set up and needed diamond stones I got one of these DMT knife sharpening kits:

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/p...SABEgJRkvD_BwE

Kill two birds with one, uh, stone.

[singlesline]

I have a whole bunch of synthetic stones from my EdgePro Apex style knife sharpening setup.

Could easily use them with a standard edge guide (or a Beast style base guide) if I ever wanted to work my edges up to a mirror finish!

Maybe I should give the mid-grits a try as an alternative to diamond stones. My main concern would be stone wear. Knife sharpening uses most of the surface of the stone on every stroke and even then the stone starts to cup relatively quickly and needs to be flattened. Ski edge tools keep the edge in one tiny spot every stroke (until you move the clamp)…fine on a file or diamond stone but maybe not great for stones meant for much harder steel.

[jackstraw]

Files to hit a hardened ski edge is the wrong tool. If you have hit a rock or some metal then the area should be hit with a stone if it is not hardened or a diamond stone if it was hardened due to a rock strike.

Pansar/bastard takes everything.

See Q an P tune. Shop rats been doing that for years to their skis. We're not Olympians and the tune won't make you one.

[J. Barron DeJong]

I have a whole bunch of synthetic stones from my EdgePro Apex style knife sharpening setup.

Could easily use them with a standard edge guide (or a Beast style base guide) if I ever wanted to work my edges up to a mirror finish!

Maybe I should give the mid-grits a try as an alternative to diamond stones. My main concern would be stone wear. Knife sharpening uses most of the surface of the stone on every stroke and even then the stone starts to cup relatively quickly and needs to be flattened. Ski edge tools keep the edge in one tiny spot every stroke (until you move the clamp)…fine on a file or diamond stone but maybe not great for stones meant for much harder steel.

Yeah, I could see a water stone getting f’ed up pretty quickly trying to tune skis.

[gregL]

Vacuum belts work great for keeping the brakes secured. Couple bucks at Walmart.

Old bike inner tubes cut into 1' sections and tied with an overhand knot. You were going to throw the tube away anyway because it has 4 patches . . .

[MyNameIsAugustWest]

For ski brake retention just order a few of these from Tongan

https://search.app/?link=https%3A%2F...%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F5
They’re two-fiddy each. I’ve had mine for twenty years and they still do the job job

Or if you want to spend less Alpinord sells the heavy duty rubber bands at a buck and a quarter per pair.


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[AlpiNord]

I have a whole bunch of synthetic stones from my EdgePro Apex style knife sharpening setup.

Could easily use them with a standard edge guide (or a Beast style base guide) if I ever wanted to work my edges up to a mirror finish!

Maybe I should give the mid-grits a try as an alternative to diamond stones. My main concern would be stone wear. Knife sharpening uses most of the surface of the stone on every stroke and even then the stone starts to cup relatively quickly and needs to be flattened. Ski edge tools keep the edge in one tiny spot every stroke (until you move the clamp)…fine on a file or diamond stone but maybe not great for stones meant for much harder steel.

Have you tried redressing your stones with either silicon carbide sandpaper or a diamond file? Both work well for ruby stones.

[gregL]

Why the arbitrary $100 limit or desire for an "all-in-one" kit? You gonna stop tuning after this season?

All I need 95% of the time is 2 degree and 3 degree (or 92 and 93) side edge bevel guides (I like Sun Valley Ski Tools; you don't need the Pro version with the stainless plate as the regular all-aluminum ones will last your lifetime), a couple spring clamps, a 100mm Panzer file for setting bevels/sidewall removal and 100, 200 and 400 grit diamond stones (get 100mm, I like Moonflex best), and a fine gummi stone. Be sure to keep your stones clean and lubed while using them (toothbrush with 1:1 water/rubbing alcohol so they don't get clogged up). SWIX has some great videos on how to use them.

I have a couple base edge bevel guides but I seldom use them; when the base edge gets hammered it's time to take them to the shop for a belt/stone refinish. If you do hit rocks, the jagged edge is always on the side edge, use the 100 grit diamond stone to smooth it before you use a file.

[Duffman]

Agree with all of this which made me question the skivisons device which is so loved here. Doesnt that hit the base edge also every time? I was taught to try and not touch the base edge once set even with stones since it increases bevel

[AlpiNord]

Agree with all of this which made me question the skivisons device which is so loved here. Doesnt that hit the base edge also every time? I was taught to try and not touch the base edge once set even with stones since it increases bevel

True, but with the Ski Visions Ski Sharp, you can also use it without a file or diamond for the base edge.

[Duffman]

True, but with the Ski Visions Ski Sharp, you can also use it without a file or diamond for the base edge.

Ah didn't realize that. Thanks

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[tenB]

True, but with the Ski Visions Ski Sharp, you can also use it without a file or diamond for the base edge.

Can you adjust the side angles in 1/2 degrees? I run most of my wider skis at 1.5 side angles and I’m a picky bitch

[AlpiNord]

Can you adjust the side angles in 1/2 degrees? I run most of my wider skis at 1.5 side angles and I’m a picky bitch

Unless you can find one used, it's a moot point, eh? I don't have anymore so someone else will have to answer that question. The SkiMan/Toko/Swix/Maplus/etc ProSharps are indexed at each degree, but can be 'set' to anything, BUT it feels like it could move.



SVST quit making 0.5° side beveler shims because there wasn't much demand. And FTR, I spent quite a bit of time with an SVST Pro bevel meter and also a digital angle finder and a true bar measuring along edges. There can easily be a (+/-) 0.5° variation along an edge and I think you might be chasing shadows at some point. Especially if they are soft snow skis:

[RShea]

Can you adjust the side angles in 1/2 degrees? I run most of my wider skis at 1.5 side angles and I’m a picky bitch

Need a bit more than a full degree- a piece of electrical tape or similar on the guide or tuning tool of choice will get you a bit less than a full degree usually.

[RShea]

Also what works great for brake holders are the rubber wrist bands that were popular for some time. Think of LiveStrong types - for a bit I'd go to trade shows and the companies would have the similar made stretch bands as swag give aways and I'd stick a few in my tuning backpack instead of doubling up on regular rubber bands. Also years ago a book store that also sold music and CD's had bands that would be used to hold 2 CD's together as part of a double or buy one get one promotions. But those days are probably long gone.

[yeahman]

Old bike inner tubes cut into 1' sections and tied with an overhand knot. You were going to throw the tube away anyway because it has 4 patches . . .

For ski brake retention just order a few of these from Tongan

https://search.app/?link=https%3A%2F...%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F5
They’re two-fiddy each. I’ve had mine for twenty years and they still do the job job

Or if you want to spend less Alpinord sells the heavy duty rubber bands at a buck and a quarter per pair.


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Whatever works. Tough to beat the simplicity of a vacuum belt IMO.

[Danno]

Can you adjust the side angles in 1/2 degrees? I run most of my wider skis at 1.5 side angles and I’m a picky bitch

yes, the ski visions tool adjusts "infinitely".

[stuckathuntermtn]

+1,000 use stones way way more than a file. If you're not racing, file is more for setting bevel, and it's not at all for deburring.
Gummy stone is plenty for detuning unless maybe you're sliding a lot of rails.

[AlpiNord]

Since there are SkiVisions fans in this thread, I'll post this here for more eyes and support for Mark.....hopefully.

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/360051-Help-Mark-Sewell-of-SkiVisions-fame"]Help Mark Sewell of SkiVisions fame[/URL]

[Core Shot]

Link broken by the box fan

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...kiVisions-fame

https://gofund.me/cff46313

Don’t know him. But his tools are awesome.